Suction sweeper



F. H. BURGHER.

SUCTION SWEEPER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3|

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

a a 6. .m/w m@ M W wd@ uur rs FRED H. BURGHER, LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MARVEL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SUCTION SWEEPEB..

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd Jaun. 241, 11922.

Application led December 31, 1917. Serial No. 209,766.

To all wimmelt may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED H. BURGHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lakewood, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Suction Sweepers, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein eX- plained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so las to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates as shown to suction sweepers and more particularly to that type of suction sweeper in which the 'rot-ation of the suction fan is obtained by the traction of the sweeper across the floor, power being transmitted from the wheels to the fan by means of a simple arrangement of gears. I have also provided mean's between the fan and the driving wheels whereby the fan is continuously driven on both the forward and backward movement ofthe sweeper, and also means whereby the fan disengaged from the driving means and 1s free to continue its rotation when the movementof the sweeper is arrested.

I have provided a simple and eiiicient means for adjusting the height of the nozzle of the sweeper from the surface of the floor, and have constructed a machine which is very low in height thereby adapting it to use under furniture andother articles which is not accomplished by most other machines of this sort, the total height of the machine being about five inches.

To the accomplishmentof the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing. and thefollowing description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through my suction sweeper showing part of the driving Ameans in section. Fig. 2 is a section at right angles to Fig. 1 as shown by line 2,-2 on Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of my suction sweeper; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the supporting bracket of the height adjusting roller; and Fig. 5 is a section through the clutch mechanism.. I have shown a suction sweeper in which is provided a lower member or housing 1 which terminates at its outer end in Ya nozzle 2 and is provided with a substantially horizontal surface 3 on its upper face. Disposed at right angles to the surface 3 1s a shaft 4 on which is fastened the suction fan 5. provided in the housing 1. Acasing 7 is securely fastened to the housing and so disposed above the surface 3 that it forms a suction chamber for the fan 5. This casing 7 terminates at the end opposite to the nozzle 2 in an outlet 8 to which is attached a du'st bag or retainer which `is not shown. An aperture 9 is provided in the housing 1 thereby providing an outlet from the nozzle 2 to the fan chamber.

I have provided a simple and eiiieient means for transmitting rotary movement from the wheels 12, which are provided with friction Surfaces 13, to the fan 5 which'consists of a. pinion 14 mounted on the shaft 4 and engaging a gear 15 rotatably mounted on a stud 16 in the housing 1. Integral therewith or otherwise fastened to the gear 15 is a bevel pinion 17 adapted to engage twobevel gears 18 which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 10, which is carriedin extensions 11 of the casing or housing 1. Fastened to the shaftv 10 and adjacent the bevel gears 18 and in driving connection therewith are one way clutches 19 so disposed ,as to operate in opposite directions, one of the clutches operating as the sweeper is moved in a forward direction and the other operating when the sweeper is drawn backward. B v means of this construction the fan is continuously driven regardless of the movement in either direction of the sweeper, and the fan will continue to rotate after movement of the sweeper is arrestedv rming a chamber i is no tendency of the sweeper to upset or to raise the nozzle of the machine away from the floor when the direction of movement is reversed.

Cast integral therewith and tothe rear of the opening 25 of the nozzle 2 in the housing l is a chamber or recess 26 in which a roller 27 is adapted to fit. A forked frame or member 28 of spring metal is provided which is adapted to act as va bearing for the shaft 29 on which the roller 27 is fitted.

The frame 28 is provided at its outer ends with projections 30 bent at right angles which are adapted to be sprung into apertures 3l in the side walls of the chamber 2 6. The opposite end of the member 28 terminates in a loop or bearing 32 which is en gaged by the shank of a thumb screw 33 which engages a threaded recess in the housing l. A belt 34 engages the roller 27 and forms a driving connection between the roller 27 and a brush 35 which is rotatably retained in the nozzle 2.v

By this construction it will be seen that a simple means has been provided for adjusting the height of the nozzle from the floor andby enclosing the recess 26 in the housing 1, I do not permit any leakage of suction to occur about the roller 27.

As will be seen'by the foregoing description and drawing I have constructed a suction sweeper which is simple in construction, of few parts and very low in height so as to adapt it to use incleaning under low articles of furniture.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as `regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point outand distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a device of the character described the combination of a horizontal fan casing formed with an outlet passageway at one side thereof, a suction chamber and a transmission housing below said casing, a par' tition wall separating said suction chamber and transmission housing, lugs formed integrally with said partition wall and projecting horizontally into said transmission housing, a vertical fan shaft journaled in said lugs, a live axle passing horizontally through said transmission housing, reversely operating clutches associated with said axle, driving connections between said clutches and sald fan shaft, and a projecting nozzle formed on one side of said suction chamber and an outlet formed on the other side of said suction chamberadjacent said partition and fan shaft.

2. In a device of the character described,

casing, a live, axle extending horizontally through said transmission housing and journaled in thel sidesthereof and in lsaid downward extensions and driving means connecting said live axle with said fan shaft.

Signed byfme, this 27th day of December,

' F. H. BURGHER. 

